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Confidence Boost: Looking and Feeling Your Best

It’s natural that when you feel great, you want to look your best too. After eating a healthy diet and working out to stay fit, maybe there’s a problem spot that just won’t go away — or something that makes you look older than you feel. That’s where cosmetic surgery and aesthetic procedures can help you look your best — and more people are investing in their looks than ever before. “People want to look the way they feel,” says Dr. Samina Wahhab, MD, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon based in the Allentown area, “and give themselves a boost of confidence.” Maybe for you it’s looking good in a dress or turning back the hands of time a little bit. You’re not alone in wanting to look your best.

In 2012, there were more than 10 million surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic procedures in the United States by board certified doctors, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Of that number, women had more than 9.1 million procedures, with the top five surgical procedures being breast augmentation, liposuction, tummy tuck, eyelid surgery and breast lift. Men, too, want to look at the top of their game and the top five surgical procedures for men in 2012 were liposuction, rhinoplasty, eyelid surgery, breast reduction and ear shaping. In another survey from the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, reasons for getting cosmetic procedures included being competitive in the work place and to look younger.

Professionals do come to Wahhab’s office looking for ways to freshen their appearance to stay competitive. “They say: ‘I’m working with all these younger people and I want to stay in competition with them,’“ says Physician Extender Shane Deppen. “That’s a big thing. It’s for the everyday person who wants to live a normal life and feel comfortable with themselves.” Wahhab says when someone wants to have a procedure, they first talk about expectations and what can be done. “It’s a warm and welcoming environment, and everything is handled in a very professional manner,” she says. “We take care of our patients to the best of our abilities.” Wahhab has been practicing for 12 years and offers a wide range of surgical and nonsurgical procedures, as well as reconstructive surgery. The office also has other services as well including facials, enzyme treatments and waxing services.

For those who may not be ready for surgery, the office has Ultherapy, which uses ultrasound to tone, tighten and lift loose skin on the neck, face and brow. Deppen is a recognized expert in Ultherapy and also trains others in the procedures. “It’s like a mini facelift without the surgery,” she says. “There’s no downtime from the procedure like in surgery.” It all comes down to building up the confidence of patients and helping them look their best. “Everyone ages,” Deppen says. “If you look the way you feel, it gives you more confidence to do the things you want to do.”